Ancient DNA from pollen: a genetic record of population history in Scots pine

Assessments of plant population dynamics in space and time have depended on dated records of fossil pollen synthesized on a subcontinental scale. Genetic analyses of extant populations have revealed spatial relationships that are indicative of past spatial dynamics, but lack an explicit timescale. Synthesis of these data requires genetic analyses from abundant dated fossil material, and this has hitherto been lacking. Fossil pollen is the most abundant material with which to fill this data gap. Here we report genetic analyses of fossil pollen retrieved from Holtjärnen postglacial lake sediment in Sweden and show that plastid DNA is recoverable from Scots Pine and Norway spruce pollen grains that are 100 and 10 000 years old. By sequencing clones from two short plastid PCR products and by using multiple controls we show that the ancient sequences were endogenous to the fossil grains. Comparison of ancient sequences and those obtained from an extant population of Scots pine establishes the first genetic link between extant and fossil samples in this species, providing genetic continuity through time. The finding of one common haplotype present in modern, 100-year old and 10 000-year old samples suggests that it may have persisted near Holtjärnen throughout the postglacial period. This retrieval of ancient DNA from pollen has major implications for plant palaeoecology in conifer species by allowing direct estimates of population dynamics in space and time.     

冰核细菌在我国北方玉米上的消长动态规律

研究证明,菠萝欧文氏菌(Erwinia ananas)为我国北方玉米上优势冰核细菌种类,占总体INA细菌95 %以上。采用定量定性和定期取样分离方法,首次研究INA细菌在玉米上的消长动态规律。结果表明:玉米不同生长发育阶段是影响INA细菌在玉米上数量分布和消长动态变化的重要因素,以抽雄至成熟期间分布INA细菌数量最多,高达10 7～10 8CFU/ g,比拔节至抽雄期高出2～3个数量级,比苗期至拔节期高出4～5个数量级;同时还指出,玉米不同播期,对INA细菌数量分布影响显著,差异很大,其中INA细菌分布数量消长变化,以正常播种(1.9×10 7CFU / g) >中期播种(7.9×10 5CFU/ g) >晚期播种(5 .0×10 4 CFU/ g) ;研究指出,处于抽雄至成熟期间的玉米上分布的INA细菌数量最多,因此期间(8月上旬至9月下旬) ,气温逐渐降低,昼夜温差大,田间结露多,加上玉米处于成熟阶段,抗INA细菌能力弱,这些因素有利于低温(5～2 0℃范围内生长)型INA细菌生长繁殖,故使INA细菌分布数量最多     

Geographic variation in male courtship acoustics and genetic divergence of populations of the Cotesia flavipes species complex

Courtship behaviors of insect populations can vary across the range of a species. Populations exhibiting divergent courtship behavior may indicate genetic divergence or cryptic species. Courtship acoustic signals produced by male wing fanning and genetic structure (using amplified fragment length polymorphisms) were examined for seven allopatric populations of the Cotesia flavipes (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) species complex, using four C. sesamiae (Cameron) and three C. flavipes Cameron populations. Members of this species complex parasitize lepidopteran pests in gramineous crops including sugarcane, maize, and rice . Significant variation was detected in courtship acoustic signals and genetic structure among populations of both species. For C. sesamiae, courtship acoustic signals varied more between populations of two biotypes that were collected near an area of sympatry. The two biotypes of C. sesamiae were also genetically divergent. For C. flavipes, significant differences in acoustic signals and genetic structure occurred among allopatric populations; these differences support the recent designation of one population as a new species. Courtship acoustics play a role in reproductive isolation in this species complex, and are likely used in conjunction with chemical signals. Ecological factors such as host range and host plant use may also influence the divergence of both courtship acoustic signals and genetic structure among populations in the C. flavipes complex.     

具有吸收状态的昆虫种群矩阵模型的研究

在Vandermeer的昆虫矩阵模型的基础上,提出了具有吸收状态的昆虫种群矩阵模型。并且导出了k步吸收状态与转移状态的矩阵表达式,将有助于昆虫种群动态的研究．     

THE EFFECTIVE SIZE OF A HIERARCHICALLY STRUCTURED POPULATION

A knowledge of the effective size of a population (N_e) is important in understanding its current and future evolutionary potential. Unfortunately, the effective size of a hierarchically structured population is not, in general, equal to the sum of its parts. In particular, the inbreeding structure has a major influence on N_e. Here I link N_e to Wright's hierarchical measures of inbreeding, F_IS and F_ST, for an island-structured population (or metapopulation) of size N_T. The influence of F_ST depends strongly on the degree to which island productivity is regulated. In the absence of local regulation (the interdemic model), interdemic genetic drift reduces N_e. When such drift is combined with local inbreeding under otherwise ideal conditions, the effects of F_IS and F_ST are identical: increasing inbreeding either within or between islands reduces N_e, with N_e = N_T/[(1 + F_IS)(1 + F_ST) ? 2F_ISF_ST]. However, if islands are all equally productive because of local density regulation (the traditional island model), then N_e = N_T/[(1 + F_IS)(1 –F_ST)] and the effect of F_ST is reversed. Under the interdemic model, random variation in the habitat quality (and hence productivity) of islands act to markedly decrease N_e. This variation has no effect under the island model because, by definition, all islands are equally productive. Even when no permanent island structure exists, spatial differences in habitat quality can significantly increase the overall variance in reproductive success of both males and females and hence lower N_e. Each of these basic results holds when other nonideal factors are added to the model. These factors, deviations from a 1:1 sex ratio, greater than Poisson variance in female reproductive success, and variation in male mating success due to polygynous mating systems, all act to lower N_e. The effects of male and female variance on N_e have important differences because only females affect island productivity. Finally, it is noted that to use these relationships, F_IS and F_ST must be estimated according to Wright's definition (and corrected to have a zero expectation under the null model). A commonly used partitioning (θ, θ_g) can be biased if either island size or the number of islands is small.     

Carrying capacity in a heterogeneous environment with habitat connectivity

A large body of theory predicts that populations diffusing in heterogeneous environments reach higher total size than if non‐diffusing, and, paradoxically, higher size than in a corresponding homogeneous environment. However, this theory and its assumptions have not been rigorously tested. Here, we extended previous theory to include exploitable resources, proving qualitatively novel results, which we tested experimentally using spatially diffusing laboratory populations of yeast. Consistent with previous theory, we predicted and experimentally observed that spatial diffusion increased total equilibrium population abundance in heterogeneous environments, with the effect size depending on the relationship between r and K. Refuting previous theory, however, we discovered that homogeneously distributed resources support higher total carrying capacity than heterogeneously distributed resources, even with species diffusion. Our results provide rigorous experimental tests of new and old theory, demonstrating how the traditional notion of carrying capacity is ambiguous for populations diffusing in spatially heterogeneous environments.     

Isolation and identification of eight microsatellite loci in the Cherokee darter (Etheostoma scotti) and their variability in other members of the genera Etheostoma, Ammocrypta, and Percina

The Cherokee darter Etheostoma scotti is a federally threatened fish endemic to the Etowah River system of northwest Georgia. In order to analyse the population structure and genetic diversity of this fish, eight tetranucleotide microsatellite genetic markers were developed. The marker set was applied to 13 additional darter species to test cross-species amplification and polymorphism. Successful amplification was obtained for all eight loci in each of the 13 other species of darters, with between seven and eight polymorphic loci per species.     

Recovery of saltwater crocodiles following unregulated hunting in tidal rivers of the Northern Territory,Australia

Saltwater crocodiles (Crocodylus porosus) in the Northern Territory of Australia were protected in 1971, after a severe population decline resulting from 26 yr of intense commercial hunting. By that time wild saltwater crocodiles were rarely sighted anywhere and they were commercially extinct in areas where they had once been abundant. Standardized monitoring by spotlight surveys started in 1975 and provided relative density indices over time (1975–2009) as a unique record of the post-protection recovery of a wild crocodilian population. We examined the survey data for populations at 12 major tidal rivers, individually and as a single subpopulation. The pattern of recovery in the subpopulation in both abundance and biomass was approximated by logistic curves, predicting 5.26 non-hatchling crocodiles weighing 387.64 kg sighted per kilometer of river in 2010. We predicted potential carrying capacity as 5.58 non-hatchling crocodiles (5.73% higher than 2010) weighing 519.0 kg (25.31% higher than 2010). Individual rivers showed largely different abundance and biomass among rivers. The statistical model that best described the recovery in individual rivers was not always logistic. However, where it was logistic, expected carrying capacity of different rivers showed considerable variation in abundance and biomass. The variation indicates different habitat quality among the rivers. Recovery occurred despite various consumptive uses, particularly a widespread egg-harvest program, which has been an integral part of the incentive-driven conservation program for saltwater crocodiles in the Northern Territory since 1983. We suggest that the saltwater crocodile population of the Northern Territory is achieving full recovery from uncontrolled hunting in 1945–1971. Although saltwater crocodiles are considered an important natural resource, their increase in number, size, and distribution is posing management issues for public safety. Continuation of human–crocodile conflict management through public education and strategic removal of problem crocodiles will be essential. © 2011 The Wildlife Society.     

兴安落叶松种群格局的分形特征信息维数

种群格局信息维数能够刻划格局强度的尺度变化程度,揭示出种群个体分布的非均匀性状况。采用信息维数对大兴安岭兴安落叶松种群格局的研究显示,各类兴安落叶松林中兴安落叶松种群格局的信息维数大小依次为越桔－兴安落叶松林（１．４８０）＞杜香－兴安落叶松林（１．３７３）＞杜鹃－兴安落叶松林（１．３２１）＞草类－兴安落叶松林（１．０９３）。虽为群落建群种,兴安落叶松种群格局的信息维数较低（＜１．５,远离２）,格局     

小菜蛾对阿维菌素的抗性遗传方式 和相对适合度研究

就小菜蛾Plutella xylostella对阿维菌素的抗性遗传方式和抗性品系的相对适合度进行了研究。室内选育的阿维菌素抗性品系与同源的敏感品系杂交、F₁代自交、F₁代与亲本回交,结果表明：杂交后的显性度（D）分别为-0.64和-0.52,说明小菜蛾对阿维菌素的抗性是常染色体、不完全隐性遗传;χ²检验证实,可能是多基因控制的抗性遗传。杂交F₁代乙酰胆碱酯酶（AChE）、羧酸酯酶（CarE）和谷胱甘肽转移酶（GST）活性比抗性亲本有所降低,F2代及回交后代三种酶的活性继续降低。种群适合度研究表明,抗性品系相对于敏感品系有0.84的适合度。